As someone who genuinely loved reading the Harry Potter series, it’s strange to me sometimes to be such a strong advocate against it. My problem is not with Harry Potter, nor J. K. Rowling, but in matching the series with the right audience. Initially, as with all series, the books were released slowly: one a year for the early ones, and then sometimes two or three years between the later ones. But unlike some series books where the hero ages only slightly or not at all, Harry himself grew a year older in each book, his experiences reflecting this coming of age. The very first book, which I hold in my hands now, introduces us to a lost young boy on the brink of a marvelous journey of self-discovery and adventure. It is about 300 pages long, with standard sized font for a chapter book and looks as innocuous as you’d expect from a magical middle grades novel. Unsurprisingly, it’s fantastic. It draws readers in and makes them long to read the rest, to discover what excitement next awaits Harry.
The bulk of the book is fun adventures at Hogwarts, plenty of your usual boarding school mischief, but magical, with ghosts and extraordinary beasties and invisible cloaks. But the undercurrent is quite dark. The beginning is not unlike any number of fairy tales, in which the hero has lost his parents and left in the care of some rather unsuitable and unloving guardians. Then fortune steps in and introduces him to a world (and fate) beyond his wildest dreams. So how is it unlike other tales of magic and adventure? What is scary or dark about it? Well, unlike most fairy tales, the evil that is responsible for Harry’s parents deaths, Voldemort, is present, still evil and unable to be killed. And he is actively trying to gain power and actively trying to kill Harry. Harry’s unsuitable guardians are in fact, abusive, locking him in a closet under the stairs, issuing threats. Once we enter the world of Hogwarts, its students, in and among the usual mischief are genuinely worried that teachers (usually a position of trust and safety) are trying to bring them and those they care about to harm. And while they are a bit off in regards to whom they suspect, they are in fact, correct that staff is dangerous. The final chapters of the book begin to give us a glimpse of the future, as there is a showdown between the main three characters, Ron, Hermione and Harry and the forces of evil. And unlike many children’s books, the children are actually at risk of being killed.
That said, it doesn’t read as terribly scary. Particularly if you don’t know what lies ahead, and due to the familiar constructs employed by Rowling, readers will unlikely be genuinely worried that any of the main three characters might be killed. They are more likely to focus on the exciting magical world that has been created and the vibrant details that Rowling gives us. It’s easy to see why after reading this first book, young readers are eager to continue the series.
Age Recommendation: If this were a free standing book, I would be happy to recommend it to strong third grade readers and up. As it it part of a series, and many children will not be dissuaded from continuing, I’m more hesitant about that recommendation. While there is no end to wizardy goodness in this book (flying keys, three-headed dogs named Fluffy, the singing Sorting Hat) there are dark themes for those who are looking. Also on the more difficult side, Hagrid speaks in dialect.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – A girl is called attractive by a boy. Hagrid kisses Professor McGonagall on the cheek.
Profanity – “dratted,” “Good Lord,” “shut up,” “idiot,” “stupid,”
Death, Violence and Gore – At the beginning we learn that Volemort has killed Harry’s parents and tried to kill Harry, but failed. Harry has been told they were killed in a car crash. Dudley kicks, punches, pokes, prods and pinches various people. Dudley knocked down an old lady on crutches while riding his bike. A woman broke her leg tripping over a cat. Dudley drove a tank over a dog. Uncle Vernon is armed with a rifle. We learn that Voldemort killed those who stood up to him. Mr. Dursley says there’s nothing wrong with Harry a beating wouldn’t have cured. A ghost’s head swings back as if hinged from a beheading that was not terribly thorough. Another ghost is covered in blood. A corridor is off limits to those who do not wish to die a painful death. People rarely die while playing Quidditch (so of course, it follows that people have died while playing Quidditch). Someone has a bloodied and mangled leg from an encounter with a beast. A boy becomes covered in angry red boils. Someone crashes off a broomstick, breaking a wrist. There is a scuffle with a mountain troll, where the troll suffers someone grabbing it around its neck, having a fist shoved up its nose and is finally knocked out. Trolls are bad guys so this is not terribly concerning. There is a brief fist fight between a group of boys. A baby dragon bites people. In the old days bad students were kept in chains. A unicorn is dead, a hooded figure drinks its blood. A bow and arrow is used for protection. A character is paralyzed by a curse. This is particularly of note, because it is done by friends who feel they need to keep something from him. A character is smashed across the face by a life sized chess piece. He enters this situation knowingly in order to help others. A different troll has been knocked out and has a bloody lump on its head. Children must solve a logic puzzle in order to avoid drinking poison and dying. A character is alone with a teacher who is attempting to kill him and has tried to kill him before. Harry is threatened and the one who is responsible for his parent’s deaths describes how he first killed his father but that his mother needn’t have died, that she died protecting him and that he shouldn’t let her have died in vain. Harry’s scar causes him blinding pain. His skin causes those who threaten him to receive terrible burns. He is under thread of imminent death. Two characters (who are aged) make a decision to die. Voldemort leaves a follower of his to die after he has used his body. He cannot be killed as he is not truly alive.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Mr. Dursley gets a large brandy. Hagrid requests a drink stronger than tea. A bartender offers Hagrid “the usual.” Hagrid is rumored to get drunk. Hagrid drinks wine at Christmas. A baby dragon must be fed on chicken blood mixed with brandy. We learn that Hagrid was drunk.
Frightening or Intense Things – There are ghosts, but they are not particularly frightening unless one is typically frightened by ghosts. Vampires and zombies are mentioned but are not major players in the story. There’s discussion about whether it is preferable to live and be cursed forever or die. There is also talk about whether or not Voldemort had enough human left in him to die. There is a poltergeist who is constantly causing trouble. A character has two faces, one of his own and another belonging to his master.
